icarusfallstan's reviews
167 reviews

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

i feel so numb in the best way possible 

Blind Side by Kandi Steiner

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Woah I actually liked this book even though there were some really cringe scenes. I loved the chemistry between Giana and Clay, this book is my new guilty pleasure 

Getting His Game Back by Gia de Cadenet

emotional funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I really liked the romance between Kahlil and Vanessa but I felt like something was missing. This doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy them as a couple bc their dynamic really was refreshing, I love seeing how supportive they were with one another. The main focus being on khalil was refreshing, his personal experience with mental health felt so accurate, I really appreciated the depiction. The way Khalil’s character arc was written had so much complexity, it was great to read. 

Though the structure of the book made the book not flow as well due to the skips of certain scenes. It really made me not as invested to finish the book. This book has so much potential which makes me excited to see what the author has in store with the other characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Minor: Self harm, Suicide

Captivated by Danger by Endiya Carter

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

i honestly loved this book. Truely entertaining and at times kinda wholesome 

Finding Me by Viola Davis

dark hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Tempted by Danger by Endiya Carter

adventurous funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

this book was just sex, mess and vibes and it was so fun to read. Some parts of the books were corny especially the last few chapters but I had so much fun reading all the mess go down. I was truly invested. The book at times just summarised certain parts of dymon and quinci’s interactions which made the writing disjointed. If some parts were cut I felt like the book could’ve flowed way better. But overall I loved their romance and was invested, they had a good dynamic and the smut was on another level 

Mile High by Liz Tomforde

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book is around 3.5 stars but I rounded it down. 

The characters development was great, I liked that they had some form of emotional intelligence. It was a breath of fresh air from reading the playboy archetypes in sports romances. Their chemistry and banter was fun, it really made me love their relationship as a whole. They had such wholesome and intimate moments that made me swoon. 

Though, the second half of the book become too corny for me, I started rolling my eyes. The story felt too rushed and I wanted more grovelling from Zander and see him come to the realisation of how him wanting forgiveness was more than just because he needed her in his life. Though I loved the focus on him dealing with his trauma, I wish there was more focus on Stevie and the mothers family therapy sessions and growth. With these characters being poc, I really wanted more discussions about their ethnicity rather than just saying the fmc has “golden skin” and “wild hair,” “untameable” (which are words that shouldn’t be used idk). The characters ethnicity felt blurry I just wish it was acknowledged more apart from the throwaway comment Zander makes about looking different from other people in the league. It was the only time it was acknowledged and honestly felt like an easy way out for the author to not discuss it more in detail. Tbh once I searched up the author and saw they were white, it started to make sense. 

Liquor & Laundry by Tasha L. Harrison

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

this book had me giddy and smiling non stop. The characters interactions were very wholesome and had amazing dirty talk written throughout. Ahmad and Hadassha’s dynamic felt so unique, tied in with their palpable chemistry and great emotional depth, I really enjoyed reading their story. I honestly can’t get over the smut, it’s not too much, but just enough to have you swooning and squealing